Back To School Prep: Study Hacks

Some helpful tips and tools to improve students' academic performance:

1. Manage your time effectively: Study for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break to boost productivity and focus.

Empower yourself with mind mapping. When faced with complex topics, mind maps provide a visual and simple way to organize these subjects, helping you connect ideas and prepare better for exams. This technique makes even the most challenging topics manageable, putting you in control of your academic performance.

3. Take practical notes: Use colors, abbreviations, and summaries to capture essential points and excel in exams. Sticky notes or flashcards can also help make your study techniques simpler and more organized.

4. Enhance your learning experience with digital tools. Anki for flashcards and Evernote for note organization are not just tools, they are your study companions. They allow you to review and organize your study materials with ease, making your learning process more efficient and enjoyable.

5. Stay active during breaks: Recharge with refreshing walks or power naps to maintain focus.

6. Improve memory retention: Boost your memory with mnemonic devices such as vivid associations, rhymes, and acronyms for easy recall.

Studying in groups can be a fun and interactive way to learn. You can achieve shared success by collaborating with peers, quizzing each other, and tackling tough topics together. This enhances your understanding and makes the learning process more enjoyable.

8. Snack healthy: Fuel your brain with nutritious snacks like nuts, berries, and dark chocolate for increased focus and energy.

Incorporating these study tips into your routine allows you to optimize your study habits for the academic year. Please share your experiences and suggestions in the comments. This way, we can all learn from each other and support each other's educational journey.

NjA Art & Photography

What Does Comfort Food Mean?

 

COMFORT FOOD is a universal, relatable concept that encompasses specific types of food or meals that evoke nostalgic, satisfied, or emotionally comforting feelings. These dishes are often linked with positive emotions with their warm, content, and soothing qualities. While comfort food can vary from person to person based on their experiences, culture, and preferences, the emotional comfort it provides is a common thread.

Comfort foods come in a variety of forms, each with its own unique ability to evoke feelings of comfort. These dishes might remind you of childhood moments, special events, or times when you relaxed, offering psychological comfort rather than just physical nourishment. From macaroni and cheese to grilled fish, from noodles stir fry to desserts like ice cream, chocolate cake, and siopao (chicken bun or pork bun), the range of comfort foods is as diverse as the people who enjoy them.

Comfort foods have rich and indulgent flavors or are connected to a feeling of home and security. This emphasis on the emotional benefits of consuming comfort food reassures us of its role in providing a break or relaxation.

It's important to understand that comfort food is deeply personal and can differ significantly among people and cultures. This reiteration reinforces the idea that comfort food is subjective and varies widely, acknowledging and respecting each individual's unique relationship with their comfort foods. Whether it's savory, hearty dishes, sweet treats, or specific foods associated with family customs, comfort food is a personal choice that plays a crucial role in how individuals engage with their feelings, memories, and general well-being.

NjA Art & Photography

Christmas in July. How did it start?

    The tradition of "Christmas in July" is believed to have originated at a girls' summer camp in 1933 called Keystone Camp in Brevard, North Carolina. The camp decided to celebrate the holiday six months before Christmas as a fun and festive event. 

    This unique celebration has evolved, including caroling, decorating a Christmas tree, visiting Santa Claus, exchanging presents, and even creating fake snow made of cotton. It has become a part of pop culture, offering a mid-year escape that still captures the joy and spirit of Christmas.

NjA Art & Photography